Shoe wrap

ABSTRACT

Exemplary embodiments of a shoe wrap and a shoe are provided. A shoe wrap can be provided having a strap configured for placement around a user&#39;s foot, and a bottom portion comprising a non-slip material adjoined to the strap and configured to be positioned in an instep area of a user&#39;s shoe. A shoe can be provided having a bottom portion configured for placement of a user&#39;s foot having a front portion and a rear portion, an instep area between the front portion and the rear portion, and a strap having a first portion configured for placement around a user&#39;s foot and a second portion comprising a non-slip material configured to be positioned at the instep area.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application relates to and claims priority from U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 62/049,305 filed Sep. 11, 2014, the entiredisclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to exemplary embodiments of a shoe wrap,and more particularly, to exemplary embodiments of a shoe wrap forsecuring a user's foot to a shoe.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

It can be difficult for adults and children to find shoes that fit, andparticularly for women. Specifically, high heels, and other shoes thathave a higher heel portion and a lower toe portion, can cause a foot toslip forward while wearing the shoe and walking. Typically, because thefoot is sliding forward, this results in a gap in the back of the shoe,and damage to the toes of a wearer. This gap and looseness of the shoecan also cause missteps and injuries.

SUMMARY OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSURE

At least some of the above described problems can be addressed by theexemplary embodiments of a shoe wrap of the present disclosure.

In some exemplary embodiments, a shoe wrap can be provided, comprising astrap configured for placement around a user's foot, and a bottomportion comprising a non-slip material adjoined to the strap andconfigured to be positioned in an instep area of a user's shoe. Thestrap and bottom portion can be a single unitary piece. The strap andbottom portion can be separate pieces and can be sewn together. Thestrap can comprise one or more of an elastomeric, cotton, plastic,nylon, polyester, leather, elastic and spandex material. The strap canfurther comprise an inner strap and an outer strap. The inner strap cancomprise a smooth material that is placed against a user's skin.

The shoe wrap can further comprise a sealing mechanism to seal the straparound a user's foot. The sealing mechanism can comprise one of a tie,buckle or Velcro to seal the strap around a user's foot. The strap canbe configured to be placed underneath the instep area of a user's shoe.The strap can be configured to be placed inside a through-hole in aninstep area of a user's shoe.

In some exemplary embodiments, a shoe can be provided, comprising abottom portion configured for placement of a user's foot having a frontportion and a rear portion, an instep area between the front portion andthe rear portion, and a strap having a first portion configured forplacement around a user's foot and a second portion comprising anon-slip material configured to be positioned at the instep area.

The first portion and second portion of the strap can be a singleunitary piece. The first portion and second portion of the strap can beseparate pieces and can be sewn together. The first portion of the strapcan comprise one or more of an elastomeric, cotton, plastic, nylon,polyester, leather, elastic and spandex material.

The shoe can further comprise a sealing mechanism to seal the straparound a user's foot. The sealing mechanism can comprise one of a tie,buckle or Velcro to seal the strap around a user's foot. The secondportion of the strap can be configured to be placed underneath theinstep area. The second portion of the strap can be configured to beplaced inside a through-hole in the instep area. The rear portion of thebottom portion of the shoe can be raised with respect to the frontportion of the bottom portion. The instep area can be raised withrespect to the front portion of the bottom portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects of the present disclosure will beapparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, takenin conjunction with the accompanying exemplary drawings and claims, inwhich like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe wrap according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2(a) is a perspective view of a shoe that can be used with a shoewrap according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2(b) is a perspective view of a shoe wrap used with the shoe ofFIG. 2(a) according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 3(a) is a perspective view of a shoe that can be used with a shoewrap according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 3(b)-3(d) show various embodiments of shoe wraps that can be usedwith the shoe of FIG. 3(a) according to exemplary embodiments of thepresent disclosure; and

FIGS. 4(a)-4(i) show various embodiments of shoe wraps used with shoesaccording to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

Throughout the figures, the same reference numerals and characters,unless otherwise stated, are used to denote like features, elements,components or portions of the illustrated embodiments. Moreover, whilethe subject disclosure will now be described in detail with reference tothe figures, it is done so in connection with the illustrativeembodiments. It is intended that changes and modifications can be madeto the described embodiments without departing from the true scope andspirit of the subject disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF DISCLOSURE

Exemplary embodiments of the shoe wrap of the present disclosure willnow be described with reference to the figures. The followingdescription of the various embodiments is merely exemplary in nature andis in no way intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, itsapplication, or uses.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe wrap 100 according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1, ashoe wrap 100 can have an outer strap 110 and an inner strap 120. Theouter strap 110 and inner strap 120 can be one unitary piece or twoindividual pieces that are sewn or stuck together. The outer strap 110and inner strap 120 can be made of any material, such as but not limitedto an elastomeric material, cotton, plastic, nylon, polyester, leather,elastic, spandex or a composite comprising one or more of thesematerials. The inner strap 120 can be smooth so that it is soft on auser's skin. The shoe wrap 100 can be flexible (e.g., elastic) toaccommodate various sizes of feet. The shoe wrap 100 can be oneintegrated piece or can have a tie, buckle, Velcro® or other mechanismto seal the shoe wrap around a user's foot. The shoe wrap 100 can have abottom portion 130 comprising a non-slip material, such as but notlimited to rubber, that is pressed against a shoe and won't degrade as aresult of striking the pavement, as will be described below.

FIG. 2(a) is a perspective view of a shoe 140 that can be used with ashoe wrap according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The shoe 140 can be but is not limited to a high heel orother type of shoe, such as a flat shoe or other open top shoe, and canhave a rear portion 146 configured to hold a user's foot (e.g., heelarea) higher than at a front portion 147 of the shoe (e.g., toe area).The shoe 140 can have an instep area 145 where a user's instep isusually placed. The bottom portion of the instep area 145 can be placedhigher than the front portion 147 of the shoe so it does not engage withthe floor.

FIG. 2(b) is a perspective view of a shoe wrap 100 used with a shoe 140according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. In someexemplary embodiments, the bottom portion 130 of the shoe wrap 100 canbe placed underneath the instep area 145 of the shoe 140. Otherpositions of the shoe wrap 100 on the shoe are also contemplated by thepresent disclosure. For example, an “x” pattern is shown in FIG. 2(b)but the shoe wrap 100 can also wrap around the foot and the instep area145 in a circle pattern. Because the bottom portion 130 in thisembodiment is made of a non-slip material (e.g., rubber or othernon-slip material), it is strong and does not slip along the bottom areaof the shoe 140 or degrade when striking the pavement surface. The outerstrap 110 and inner strap 120 can be wrapped around a user's ankle, andif not formed as one integrated piece, can be secured using a lockingmechanism, such as a tie, buckle or strap.

Various advantages are provided by the exemplary embodiments of thepresent disclosure. For example, because the shoe wrap can hug the shoeto the foot at the arch/instep, the foot does not slide forward,preventing any damage to the toes and any gap in the shoe that can causemisstep or an injury. The shoe wrap can be made of an elastomericmaterial that can hug the foot, and can stretch to be put on and takenoff, and hug the foot when in place. It can be designed to be worn atthe instep/arch of a shoe. It can encircle the instep and the foot suchthat it holds the shoe firmly on the foot, so no matter how high theheel portion is, the foot will not slide forward. There would not be aneed to carry a separate bag for fashionable shoes while walking incomfortable shoes, such as sneakers, and then changing into thefashionable shoes after the walk is completed, as many people do now.Any shoes, even old shoes, can now be used as walking shoes with theinventive shoe wrap.

Various other configurations and designs of the shoe wrap 100 arecontemplated by the present disclosure which can be used with varioustypes of shoes. For example, FIGS. 3(b)-3(d) show various embodiments ofshoe wraps that can be used with the shoe of FIG. 3(a) according toexemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, a shoe140, such as a high heel, can have a shoe wrap 100 of various designs,shapes and styles as those shown. This can allow a user to use one shoe140 as shown in FIG. 3(a), and the various designs of the three shoewraps 100 in FIGS. 3(b)-3(d) can make it appear to be three differentshoes.

In some exemplary embodiments, a through-hole 150 can be provided alongthe instep area 145 of the shoe 140 so that the shoe wrap 100 can beinserted through the through-hole 150 of the shoe 140 and the bottomportion 130 of the shoe wrap 100 will sit within the through-hole 150,as shown in FIG. 3(d). The through-hole 150 can have any length orwidth, and can have a shorter or longer length to accommodate shoe wrapsof varying length. The through-hole 150 can also have any width toaccommodate thicker or thinner shoe wraps 100.

FIGS. 4(a)-4(i) show various exemplary embodiments of shoe wraps 100that can be provided on various shoes 140 according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure. For example, in FIG. 4(a) the shoewrap 100 can have more than one strap 155 to engage the instep area ofthe shoe 100. Each strap 155 can have a bottom portion as describedabove having a non-slip material in the area that engages with theinstep area. As shown in FIG. 4(b), the shoe wrap 100 can have laces 160to secure the shoe wrap 100 to the user's foot. As shown in FIG. 4(c),the shoe wrap 100 can have a back support 170 to secure the shoe wrap100 to the user's foot or ankle. As shown in FIG. 4(d), the shoe wrap 00can have a design 165 such as beads along the straps of the shoe wrap100. As shown in FIG. 4(e), the shoe wrap 100 can have a full supportfor a user's ankle. As shown in FIG. 4(f), the shoe wrap 100 can have astrap 175 that can be attached to the shoe wrap 100 to tie it to auser's ankle. The strap 175 can be sewn or attached to the shoe wrap100, and can be a single unitary piece, or can have a hole 171 that canallow for various straps to be attached to the shoe wrap 100. The strap175 can have a buckle as shown or can be tied or secured to the user'sankle through other mechanisms. As shown in FIG. 4(g), the shoe wrap 100can have a strap 180 that can secure the shoe wrap 100 to the user'sankle and can be a single unitary piece or material. As shown in FIG.4(h), the shoe 140 can be a flat shoe and the shoe wrap 100 can have astrap 190 to secure the shoe wrap 100 to the user's ankle.

In some exemplary embodiments, as shown in FIG. 4(i), the shoe wrap 100can have a “sock” design with a pattern 195 and can slip over the shoe140 like a sock. The shoe wrap 100 can expose the toe portion 197. Insome exemplary embodiments, the shoe wrap can also cover the heelportion 196 of the shoe 140. The pattern 195 can have one design or canhave multiple designs/patterns, and can have the appearance or look of asock.

Various other considerations can also be addressed in the exemplaryembodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the shoe wrap 100can have various shapes, sizes, colors, styles, configurations, and canbe made of various materials. The shoe wrap 100 can be made toaccommodate various types of shoes, such as high heels, flats, and othertypes of shoes. The shoe wrap 100 can be flexible and can stretch toaccommodate various sizes of feet. Different materials can be providedfor the inner strap 120 (soft comfortable material), and differentmaterials can be provided for the outer strap 110, where a design orother materials (e.g., beads, studs, jewelry) can be provided fordifferent styles.

In some exemplary embodiments, the inner and outer strap can be made ofthe same material. The portion that wraps around the foot (e.g., theinner strap 120 and outer strap 110) can be a stretchy material (e.g.,elastomeric material) and the portion that encircles an instep area(e.g., bottom portion 130) can be made of a non-slip material (e.g.,rubber) that wraps around the shoe. For shoes that have a flat sole, theportion that encircles the bottom of the instep area can be made of amaterial that is strong so that it can withstand contact from the flooror pavement (e.g., sidewalks or a street) while walking. A shoe such asa high heel may not require bottom portion 130 to be of a differentsturdier material than the rest of the shoe wrap 100 since the bottomportion 130 is not touching the ground. The shoe wrap 100 can hold thefoot securely and snugly to the sole of the shoe so that a user's footdoes not slip or slide forward.

The foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the disclosure.Various modifications and alterations to the described embodiments willbe apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the teachings herein.It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be ableto devise numerous systems, arrangements, manufacture and methods which,although not explicitly shown or described herein, embody the principlesof the disclosure and are thus within the spirit and scope of thedisclosure. The disclosures of all systems, documents and publicationscited herein are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

What is claimed is:
 1. A shoe wrap, comprising: a strap configured forplacement around a user's foot; and a bottom portion comprising anon-slip material adjoined to the strap and configured to be positionedin an instep area of a user's shoe.
 2. The shoe wrap of claim 1, whereinthe strap and bottom portion are a single unitary piece.
 3. The shoewrap of claim 1, wherein the strap and bottom portion are separatepieces and are sewn together.
 4. The shoe wrap of claim 1, wherein thestrap comprises one or more of an elastomeric, cotton, plastic, nylon,polyester, leather, elastic and spandex material.
 5. The shoe wrap ofclaim 1, wherein the strap further comprises: an inner strap and anouter strap.
 6. The shoe wrap of claim 5, wherein the inner strapcomprises a smooth material that is placed against a user's skin.
 7. Theshoe wrap of claim 1, further comprising: a sealing mechanism to sealthe strap around a user's foot.
 8. The shoe wrap of claim 7, wherein thesealing mechanism comprises one of a tie, buckle or Velcro to seal thestrap around a user's foot.
 9. The shoe wrap of claim 1, wherein thestrap is configured to be placed underneath the instep area of a user'sshoe.
 10. The shoe wrap of claim 1, wherein the strap is configured tobe placed inside a through-hole in an instep area of a user's shoe. 11.A shoe comprising: a bottom portion configured for placement of a user'sfoot having a front portion and a rear portion; an instep area betweenthe front portion and the rear portion; and a strap having a firstportion configured for placement around a user's foot and a secondportion comprising a non-slip material configured to be positioned atthe instep area.
 12. The shoe of claim 11, wherein the first portion andsecond portion of the strap are a single unitary piece.
 13. The shoe ofclaim 11, wherein the first portion and second portion of the strap areseparate pieces and are sewn together.
 14. The shoe of claim 11, whereinthe first portion of the strap comprises one or more of an elastomeric,cotton, plastic, nylon, polyester, leather, elastic and spandexmaterial.
 15. The shoe of claim 11, further comprising: a sealingmechanism to seal the strap around a user's foot.
 16. The shoe of claim15, wherein the sealing mechanism comprises one of a tie, buckle orVelcro to seal the strap around a user's foot.
 17. The shoe of claim 11,wherein the second portion of the strap is configured to be placedunderneath the instep area.
 18. The shoe of claim 11, wherein the secondportion of the strap is configured to be placed inside a through-hole inthe instep area.
 19. The shoe of claim 11, wherein the rear portion ofthe bottom portion of the shoe is raised with respect to the frontportion of the bottom portion.
 20. The shoe of claim 19, wherein theinstep area is raised with respect to the front portion of the bottomportion.